garba and Raas are devotional and social dances performed annually
Garba is a circular devotional dance in celebration of fertility and the divine feminine. The dances take place around a decorated Pot in the centre around which people dance
The Dandiya Raas is a stick dance played by a group of evenly numbered dancers. Dancing in two concentric circular lines with one line moving clockwise and the other counterclockwise.
Sparkling whilst clicking sticks with each other
At a devotional Garba event the first two hours are devoted to performing Garba dances. There is an a short period of communal worship known as an Aarti. In which the gathering stand in a circle around a image of a deity and sing and chant a devotional composition
Navaratri, which means nine nights is a devotional and spiritual event. As the name suggest Navratri three takes place over a period of nine nights during which various rights and rituals take place. For Gujaratis this is mostly when Garba and Raas dances take place
The music of Garba and Raas is folk music, which is popular with masses and gives them a musical style and form which they find pleasant and which is easy to perform. These compositions have been handed down over generations and the words and themes range from the spiritual, to social and domestic concerns
The basic steps are as simple as stepping backwards and fowards, with a slight lift.Once the basic steps become second nature, there are many variations and enhancements which can be introduced to have the dancer stand out and shine. There are many ways in which the clapping can happen and if done well the clapping regulates the rhythm
All dance has primitive origins and is refined and evolved over the ages. In due course, in Gujarat, folk dances such as Garba, and Raas came into being for the mass of people to enjoy the benediction of dance and allow them to express and realise differing moods and passions